Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL87705’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘BBCAL87705’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; violet and dark purple-colored petals with a light yellow fading to white-colored star-shaped pattern and bright yellow-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBCAL87705’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘BBCAL87705’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branchingCalibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower colors and patternsand good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Oct. 15, 2015 of a proprietaryseedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number15CB414-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as codenumber 15C688-02, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCalibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall,Calif. on Jun. 23, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. sinceJun. 25, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL87705’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBCAL87705’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to        trailing plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Violet and dark purple-colored petals with a light yellow        fading to white-colored star-shaped pattern and bright        yellow-colored centers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of the female parent        selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the female parent        selection are violet in color with yellow-colored star-shaped        pattern and centers.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance        whereas plants of the female parent selection have poor garden        performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as flowers of plants of the male parent        selection are dark violet in color with yellow-colored        star-shaped pattern and centers.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance        whereas plants of the male parent selection have poor garden        performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of ‘USCALI11’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘USCALI11’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are light red purple in        color.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance        and are more tolerant to pathogens common to Calibrachoa plants        than plants of ‘USCALI11’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI51’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,874. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘USCALI51’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading        than and not as upright as plants of ‘USCALI51’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘USCALI51’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI51’ differ in flower        color as flowers of plants of ‘USCALI51’ are violet in color        without a star-shaped pattern.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance        and are more tolerant to pathogens common to Calibrachoa plants        than plants of ‘USCALI51’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL87705’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘BBCAL87705’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 10-cmcontainers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and undercultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. Duringthe production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18°C. to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL87705’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 15CB414-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 15C688-02, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at            ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five            weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six            weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly            spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely            branching habit with about four to five primary lateral            branches each with about three to four secondary branches;            dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 12            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 19 cm by 20 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 9 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—About 45° to 65° from stem axis.        -   Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; matte.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 146C.        -   Color, developed.—Close to 146B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 2.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to oval.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute            pubescence; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            typically more than 150 flowers and flower buds developing            per plant; flowers face upright to outwardly and nodding.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa            begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants            flower continuously from the spring though the summer until            frost.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Minute            pubescence; matte. Color: Close to N187D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm by 3.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.4 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 10 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a            flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About            1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:            Fan-shaped. Petal apex: Rounded; recurving with development.            Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous, satiny; matte to            slightly glossy. Petal texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Tube texture and luster: Minute            pubescence; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper            surface: Close to 86B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower            surface: Close to 85D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 83A; occasionally at the edges, close to            NN155D; towards the center, close to N79A; star-shaped            pattern, close to 4A distally becoming closer to NN155D;            venation, close to 83A; lobe color becoming closer to N87A            and towards the center, close to N79B, with development.            Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to N82D;            star-shaped pattern, close to 85D; venation, close to N77B;            color becoming closer to 76A to 76B with development.            Throat: Close to 9A, yellow color fusing distally into the            light yellow-colored star pattern; venation, close to N79B.            Tube: Close to 8D; venation, close to 195B.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm. Sepal            length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate to ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Minute pubescence; matte. Sepal color, when developing,            upper surface: Close to N137A. Sepal color, when developing,            lower surface: Close to N137B. Sepal color, developed, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to N137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Angle: About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.            Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Close            to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.            Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C.            Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther            color: Close to 9C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 5B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:            Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color:            Close to 144D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit            development have not been observed on plants of the new            Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘BBCAL87705’ as illustrated and described.